Administration to Focus NAFTA Talks on $64B Trade Deficit with Mexico

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PJ Media

WASHINGTON – U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Monday released the administration’s negotiating objectives for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which prioritizes balancing a trade deficit with Mexico that has grown from $1.3 billion to $64 billion since NAFTA took effect in 1994.
President Trump has repeatedly blasted NAFTA as the “worst trade agreement” in history, and during his presidential campaign threatened to eliminate American participation. Critics have questioned the administration’s focus on the budget deficit with Mexico, asking whether it’s a fair barometer for the effectiveness of the deal.
Lighthizer in an announcement on Monday said that the administration will look to balance the bilateral goods trade balance with Mexico, as well as explore market access issues with Canada tied to dairy, wine, grain and other products.